Sunday, February 16, 2014

Book Report: Ashley Cleveland and Mac Gayden

Two of my friends and clients have recently published books and I am
happy to report that they are both excellent reads.

The first book I covered was Ashley Cleveland's memoir Little Black Sheep (David Cook 2013). When I
think of Ashley Cleveland, I think of
the fact she is one of the finest rock singers I’ve ever heard and that she seems to exude such happiness
when she performs.She has won a Dove
award but she knows how to sing the Rolling Stones.I found her book uplifting, heartbreaking and
humorous all at the same time.She is
very honest in describing the large and small tragedies of her life and it is
the universality of her struggle (meaning that every individual can relate to
the problems she has had to overcome) coupled with the straightforward way that
she describes her salvation that makes this book so compelling.This is a story where the good guys win.

Mac
Gayden’s Missing String Theory
(Elephant Walk Press, 2013) details a spiritual journey of a different path.I have known and worked with Mac for years
and of course, I knew of him long before
I met him.Mac’s book is fascinating
because it gives a detailed view from his unique position in Nashville (from
playing in frat bands to co-writing “Everlasting Love” and “She Shot a Hole in
my Soul” to Area Code 615 and Barefoot Jerry to “Blonde on Blonde,” “Morning
Glory”, J.J. Cale… it just goes on and on.Also there are some great
anecdotes about the famous and infamous and a lot of Nashville history.Mac’s musical story coincides with his spiritual growth and this is a profound
story as well. The book functions not
only as an autobiography but as a cultural study of a very special time in Nashville and of a gifted individual
who musically bridges every important music scene to come out of this
city since the 1960s.Even today Mac continues to do important
work.

I really
enjoyed reading both of these books partly because I’m a fan of both Ashley and
Mac but also because I now have a stronger sense of the conviction that goes
into their performances. ..it’s not just singing and playing. I think that we are very lucky that they have
both shared their stories.